For Immediate Release
For more information, contact:
Angela Kilbert, Associate Director of Education and Meetings
akilbert@sitcancer.org ~ (414) 271-2456 ~ www.sitcancer.org
sitc Holds Successful Annual Meeting, Announces Award Winners
Milwaukee---The International Society for Biological Therapy of Cancer (sitc) held a highly successful 22nd Annual Meeting at the Seaport World Trade Center from November 2 - 4 in Boston, Massachusetts. The 22nd Annual Meeting attracted 450 attendees consisting of basic and clinical investigators from academia, industry and regulatory agencies from the U.S., Europe and Asia, and highlighted the latest cutting-edge developments in tumor immunology and the biological therapy of cancer.
The 22nd Annual Meeting featured an interactive environment that facilitated productive discourse among clinicians, researchers, students, post-doctoral fellows, and allied health professionals from the US, Europe, Asia and beyond. The 22nd Annual Meeting consisted of over 50 high-quality scientific lectures and 135 posters related to the following topics in biological therapy and cancer immunology:
A highlight from this year's Annual Meeting was the presentation of the Richard V. Smalley, MD, Memorial Award to Dr. Ernest C. Borden of the Cleveland Clinic Foundation for his outstanding research and achievements in cancer therapy. The Smalley award serves as recognition of research excellence in the field of cancer biologics and is accompanied by an honorarium of $5,000. In association with this award, Dr. Borden also presented a lecture on "Interferons (IFNs) for Cancer: Defining Biologic Response Modification and Full Therapeutic Potential" on Friday, November 2.
"Dr. Borden has an outstanding record of accomplishment in the field," stated Jon W. Wigginton, MD, sitc President. "He has provided sustained service to our Society and the cancer research community as a whole, both nationally and internationally. Dr. Borden exemplifies excellence in translational research."
In the 1980s, Dr. Borden was amongst the first to initiate clinical trials of interferons, the first human protein effective in stimulating immune mechanisms to fight cancer. In addition to developing improved approaches to clinical assessment of interferons and its inducers, Dr. Borden's laboratory has focused on function and action of genes stimulated by interferons and anti-tumor effects of other biological therapeutics such as monoclonal antibodies. Dr. Borden also has an established international reputation for his research and his contributions to the development of cancer therapeutics.
The sitc also recognized Drs. Amy Wesa from the University of Pittsburgh and Susanne Wilde from GSF - National Center for Environment and Health, Institute of Molecular Immunology in Germany as co-winners of the 2007 sitc Presidential Award. Dr. Wesa presented her research entitled, "Apoptosis of Circulating Tumor-Antigen Specific TH1 CD4+ T Cells from Melanoma Patients" and Dr. Wilde presented "Priming and Selection of Allorestricted, Peptide-Specific T Cells for Adoptive Therapy of Tumors" on Saturday, November 3 as part of the sitc Presidential Session.
Drs. Wesa and Wilde accepted their Presidential Awards during Saturday's Presidential Reception. The sitc Presidential Award is accompanied with a $1,000 honorarium, a $1,000 travel reimbursement, and one-year membership in sitc. Drs. Wesa and Wilde were selected as winners from a group of four finalists and 45 initial entries. sitc also expanded its efforts in promoting the professional development for junior investigators by instituting several new travel awards to complement the existing Presidential Award program.
The sitc 23rd Annual Meeting is scheduled for October 31 - November 2, 2008 in San Diego, California.Founded in 1984, the International Society for Biological Therapy of Cancer (sitc) is a non profit organization of medical professionals. Membership includes over 500 clinicians, researchers, students, post-doctoral fellows, and allied health professionals dedicated to improving cancer patient outcomes by advancing the development and application of biological therapy through interaction, innovation and leadership.
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